La Palma volcano eruption: Lockdown lifted for residents after lava swallowed factory sparking fears over toxic fumes - Sky News

Around 3,500 residents of La Palma have been told they can leave their homes after authorities ended a lockdown caused when lava engulfed a cement plant, producing a thick cloud of smoke in the area.

Local emergency services ordered over 3,000 residents to remain indoors to avoid inhaling toxic fumes from the burning cement plant as it was being swallowed by the lava from the Cumbre Vieja volcano on Monday.

On Tuesday, authorities said the smoke cloud had passed and the air quality had improved so the residents of El Paso and Los Llanos de Aridane could leave their homes.

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The Cumbre Vieja volcano continues to erupt

As the incident was unfolding, Miguel Angel Morcuende, the technical director of the Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan said the fire at the plant had "produced a very dense smoke that sullied the air".

While local emergency services took to Twitter to urge residents to "lock down, if possible, in the most inner rooms."

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La Palma's airport remained open but 11 flights were cancelled on Tuesday and others were delayed, airport operator AENA said.

Meanwhile, there were 64 seismic movements on Tuesday, the strongest measuring 4.1, according to the Spanish National Geological Institute.

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Lava from the eruption that began on 19 September has laid waste to a total area of nearly 600 hectares, according to Mr Morcuende.

After the volcano's cone partially collapsed on Saturday, a new river of lava streamed towards the sea, devouring banana and avocado farms and most of the remaining houses in the town of Todoque.

Image: A map of the Cumbre Vieja volcano eruption on La Palma

Image: Drone footage shows lava trail of destruction

Image: Lava erupts from the La Palma volcano

In the three weeks since the eruption, torrents of molten rock have destroyed 1,186 buildings, the Canary Islands Volcanic Institute said.

About 6,000 people have been evacuated from their homes on La Palma, which has about 83,000 inhabitants.

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2021-10-12 13:56:42Z
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North Korea: Kim Jong-un vows to build 'invincible military' - BBC News

Reuters

North Korea's leader has vowed to build an "invincible military" in the face of what it says are hostile policies from the United States, state media report.

Kim Jong-un added that weapons development was for self-defence, and not to start a war.

Mr Kim made the comments at a rare defence exhibition while flanked by a variety of large missiles.

North Korea has recently tested what it claims to be new hypersonic and anti-aircraft missiles.

The South meanwhile has recently tested its own submarine-launched weapon.

In his speech at the Self-Defence 2021 exhibition held in the North's capital, Pyongyang, Mr Kim addressed the military build-up in the South and said that North Korea did not want to fight its neighbour.

"We are not discussing war with anyone, but rather to prevent war itself and to literally increase war deterrence for the protection of national sovereignty," he said.

Mr Kim, surrounded by an array of military hardware including tanks, accused the US of stoking tensions between North and South Korea.

He said there was "no behavioural basis" to make North Korea believe that the US was not hostile.

The US under President Joe Biden has repeatedly said it is willing to talk to North Korea, but has demanded Pyongyang give up nuclear weapons before sanctions can be eased. North Korea has so far refused.

Kim Jong-un didn't just talk about his new military might - he showed it to us.

This was the equivalent of a military parade. We have not seen this kind of defence exhibition since Mr Kim took power.

Surrounded by intercontinental ballistic missiles and portraits of him dressed in military uniform, he told those gathered that he felt "bottomless pride" as he touched the missiles.

And he made it clear that he's not done building his arsenal, which he says he needs as a deterrent.

He vowed to continue work on his wish list of weapons, while noting that South Korea was doing the same by building up its defence force in recent years.

This is Mr Kim's way of telling those criticising his arms programme that they are hypocrites. He wants Pyongyang to have the right to build up its military - just like Seoul.

Yet, just days earlier he urged his officials to focus on improving the lives of North Korean people as they face a "grim" economic situation.

With limited funds and under strict economic sanctions, can he really build an "invincible" force and help his people?

And if it comes to a choice - what will it be?

• North Korea's missile and nuclear programme
• A high-profile defector opens up on Kim's N Korea

North Korea is banned from testing ballistic missiles and nuclear weapons by the UN. It has repeatedly flouted these bans and has been heavily sanctioned as a result.

Last month, the UN atomic agency said North Korea appeared to have restarted a reactor which could produce plutonium for nuclear weapons, calling it a "deeply troubling" development.

North Korea has always maintained that it needs to continue developing weapons for defence.

But observers say it is also being used as a way to rally the impoverished country. North Korea is thought to be in dire economic straits after authorities shut borders to stop the spread of Covid-19.

Crucial supplies like food and fuel have been cut off from China, North Korea's main political and economic ally.

Mr Kim, unusually, wore sandals with socks paired with a formal dark suit at the exhibition, prompting some renewed speculation outside North Korea that this could be related to his health.

Reuters

Mr Kim is thought to have had medical problems linked to his weight, including gout which can result in foot swellings. He had been seen limping in public in the past.

Reuters quoted Colin Zwirko, an analyst with Seoul-based NK News, as saying: "He lost a significant amount of weight in a short period in May, and in September he was seen standing on padded mats during long speeches, which is not typical."

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2021-10-12 09:17:36Z
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Crete earthquake: Greek holiday island hit by large 6.4 magnitude tremor sparking tsunami warning - Sky News

A large 6.4 magnitude earthquake has hit the Greek holiday island of Crete and a tsunami warning has been issued.

The quake struck the east coast of the island at a depth of 10km under the village of Palekastro, according to the US Geological Survey.

The village is 84km (52 miles) from Agios Nikolaos, which is a popular destination for British tourists.

It comes three weeks after another tremor killed a man on the island and damaged hundreds of buildings.

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September: Strong earthquake wreaks havoc in Crete

There were no immediate reports of serious damage or injury after Tuesday's earthquake, which, according to the Geodynamic Institute in Athens, was followed by aftershocks measuring 4.1 and 4.6 in magnitude.

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Authorities said police and fire crews were checking buildings in eastern Crete for damage.

The quake was also felt on Greek islands to the east of Crete, including Karpathos, Kassos and Rhodes.

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Crete's deputy regional governor, Yiannis Leondarakis, told Greece's state-run radio: "The quake was felt all over the island, and it did cause concern because we are still feeling the aftershocks from the previous quake."

Hundreds of people from villages south of the island's largest city, Heraklion, remain homeless following a 5.8-magnitude quake that struck on 27 September.

Image: Firefighters check their gear next to the rubble of a demolished church, following the earthquake three weeks ago

A man was killed while carrying out restoration work at a church that was damaged in the area.

Residents whose homes were damaged were moved to hotels and tents set up by the army.

Mr Leondarakis said of Tuesday's earthquake: "Fortunately, there does not appear to be any serious damage despite the fact that it was a strong event and occurred at a shallow depth."

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2021-10-12 11:37:30Z
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IMF backs Georgieva after World Bank data-rigging scandal - Al Jazeera English

The International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) executive board has expressed its full confidence in Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva after reviewing allegations that she pressured World Bank staff in her previous job to alter data to favour China.

But United States Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen put Georgieva on notice that she would closely monitor the IMF’s follow-up and evaluate any new facts or findings, and called for proactive steps to reinforce data integrity and credibility at the IMF.

The IMF’s 24-member board and the US Department of the Treasury issued separate lengthy statements Monday after a week of marathon meetings over Georgieva’s actions as World Bank CEO that threw into question her continued leadership of the IMF.

Georgieva, a Bulgarian economist and the first person from a developing country to head the fund, had vehemently denied the claims. She welcomed the board’s endorsement in a separate statement of her own and said she was pleased its members had agreed the allegations against her were unfounded.

“This has obviously been a difficult episode for me personally,” she said. “However, I want to express my unyielding support for the independence and integrity of institutions such as the World Bank and IMF; and my respect for all those committed to protecting the values on which these organizations are founded.”

Georgieva had won the support of France and other European governments last week, but US and Japanese officials pushed for a more thorough review of the allegations, according to sources briefed on the matter.

At issue was a damning report prepared by the law firm WilmerHale for the World Bank’s board about data irregularities in the bank’s now-cancelled “Doing Business” report.

The firm’s report alleged that Georgieva and other senior officials applied “undue pressure” on bank staff to make changes to boost China’s ranking in the business review, just as the bank was seeking Beijing’s support for a significant capital increase.

Georgieva strongly denied the allegations, which date back to 2017, when she was the World Bank’s chief executive. She became the IMF’s managing director in October 2019.

The board said the information presented during its review – which included meetings with WilmerHale attorneys and Georgieva – did not conclusively demonstrate that she played an improper role in the Doing Business report.

European governments had sought a speedy resolution of the matter ahead of this week’s annual meetings of the IMF and World Bank, where Georgieva and World Bank President David Malpass are leading discussions on the global recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, debt relief and efforts to speed vaccinations.

The US and Japan, the fund’s two largest shareholders, cautioned against prematurely reconfirming confidence in the IMF leader, said one of the sources.

‘Serious issues’

Yellen spoke with Georgieva on Monday about the “serious issues” raised by the probe and underscored her commitment to “preserve the integrity and credibility of the World Bank and the IMF,” the US Treasury said in a statement.

While the report “raised legitimate issues and concerns,” Treasury said it agreed with other board members that “absent further direct evidence with regard to the role of the Managing Director there is not a basis for a change in IMF leadership”.

Yellen told Georgieva the WilmerHale report showed the need for shareholders to be vigilant in defending the integrity of both institutions, and said the IMF should renew their commitment to upholding transparency and whistleblower protections.

Even as Georgieva holds on to her job, the accusations affect her tenure at the IMF, which is expected to deliver unbiased analysis and serve as an honest broker and tough advice-giver among governments, especially those seeking its aid.

The scandal has also dented research reputations at both institutions, raising critical questions about whether that work is subject to member-country influence, current and former staff from both institutions say.

Malpass declined on Monday to comment on the IMF process but said the World Bank was working to improve the integrity of its research, including by elevating its chief economist, Carmen Reinhart, to be part of the bank’s 10-person senior management team.

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2021-10-12 05:16:14Z
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IMF board backs Georgieva to continue as managing director - Financial Times

The IMF’s executive board has opted to retain Kristalina Georgieva as the institution’s managing director and said it had “full confidence” in her ability to carry out her responsibilities, despite allegations she pressured World Bank staff when she was its chief executive to manipulate data to China’s benefit.

The announcement followed marathon meetings of the IMF board, which struggled over several days to reach an agreement on Georgieva’s fate as sharp divisions emerged among its 24 directors.

France, Germany, Italy and the UK had aligned alongside China and Russia to advocate on her behalf, while two of the fund’s largest shareholders, the US and Japan, were more resistant and called for a robust review. But a consensus for Georgieva to serve out her term emerged on Monday after further deliberations.

In a statement released on Monday night, the IMF board said the evidence presented “did not conclusively demonstrate” that Georgieva played an “improper” role in China’s ranking in a flagship report while at the World Bank.

“Having looked at all the evidence presented, the executive board reaffirms its full confidence in the managing director’s leadership and ability to continue to effectively carry out her duties. The board trusts in the managing director’s commitment to maintaining the highest standards of governance and integrity in the IMF.”

Georgieva, who has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing, was accused of artificially boosting China’s placement in the 2018 edition of the World Bank’s widely followed Doing Business annual report during her time at the helm of the institution.

Her alleged efforts were detailed last month in a report commissioned by the World Bank and written by representatives at WilmerHale, a law firm. The IMF board met eight times to discuss the matter, including two “extensive” meetings with WilmerHale lawyers and Georgieva.

The decision comes at the outset of the IMF’s annual meetings with the World Bank, which began this week under a cloud of uncertainty about whether Georgieva would stay on. She participated in multiple events on Monday and is scheduled to speak at several others in the next few days.

On Monday, Janet Yellen, the US Treasury secretary, called Georgieva to tell her that while the World Bank report “raised legitimate issues and concerns” the US believed that “absent further direct evidence with regard to the role of the managing director there is not a basis for a change in IMF leadership”.

But Yellen appeared to put Georgieva on notice, telling the IMF chief that the Treasury would “monitor, follow up closely, evaluate any new facts or findings” and the episode highlighted the “need for shareholders to be vigilant in defending the integrity of both the bank and the fund”. 

President Joe Biden’s administration is also vowing to push for changes at the IMF and the World Bank to prevent further instances of possible manipulation — something the IMF board also signalled it would consider.

“The US believes proactive steps must be taken to reinforce data integrity and credibility at the IMF, and that the institution and its leadership must renew their commitment to upholding transparency and whistleblower protections surrounding policies, research and analysis,” the Treasury said.

The Biden administration’s decision not to insist on Georgieva’s ousting triggered an immediate backlash from Republicans in Congress.

“This decision reflects terribly on US leadership at the IMF,” said Patrick McHenry, the top Republican on the House financial services committee. “Republicans and Democrats in Congress were alarmed by the investigation into Ms Georgieva’s actions. It is shocking that the administration looked past these bipartisan concerns and caved to pressure from other countries who want to sweep this scandal under the rug.”

In a statement released on Monday, Georgieva expressed “unyielding support for the independence and integrity” of the World Bank and the IMF.

“I am pleased that after a comprehensive, impartial review of the facts, the IMF board agrees that the allegations were unfounded,” she said. “I want to thank the board for expressing its full confidence in my leadership. Trust and integrity are the cornerstones of the multinational organisations that I have faithfully served for more than four decades.

“This has obviously been a difficult episode for me personally,” she added.

European governments selected Georgieva, who is Bulgarian, to join the IMF in 2019 after a two-year stint running the World Bank — an institution she joined in 1993 as an environmental economist and left in 2010 to work at the European Commission, among other postings, before rejoining the World Bank in 2017.

She replaced Christine Lagarde, who now serves as the president of the European Central Bank, and her appointment required the IMF to scrap the age limit stated in the fund’s bylaws for the position.

Throughout her tenure, she has won plaudits for her efforts to help emerging and developing economies weather the coronavirus pandemic, spearheading the allocation of $650bn in special drawing rights, which is the equivalent of newly minted money, earlier this year.

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2021-10-12 03:20:04Z
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End of Macron! New right-wing contender to rock French President – 'serious challenge' - Daily Express

The French president is now under threat from right-wing possible presidential candidate Eric Zemmour. Mr Zemmour has pushed aside the far-right Marine Le Pen in popularity, and now poses a serious challenge to Mr Macron. Mr Zemmour, a French far-right writer who supports Bonapartism, has been considered in news media as a possible right-wing anti-establishment candidate in the 2022 presidential election.

However, he has yet to publicly declare that he will run for office.

Associate editor at The Spectator Douglas Murray, writing in the Daily Telegraph, described Mr Zemmour as saying "many things that the public had not previously dared".

Mr Murray added: "He called for halts on immigration.

"He controversially lamented the demographic alteration of the French population and also called for direct measures to counter these changes.

"Today he is a celebrity in France.

"Paris Match recently put him on their front cover because of a photo snatched of him in the sea bathing with his attractive young female assistant."

The writer went on to suggest that Mr Zemmour's rise is "not just a political earthquake in France but across Europe".

He added: "The EU has survived in recent decades on a technocratic class that occasionally registers deep public concerns, but does little or nothing to address them.

READ MORE: Andrew Neil brutally shuts down Remainer in Brexit clash

However, if Mr Zemmour was to run as a candidate, it looks possible that he could go through to the final round as a major contender to go up against President Macron.

Mr Zemmour divides opinion in France, he has been convicted for inciting hatred in the country.

Gaspard Gantzer, a former advisor to ex-President François Hollande said that Mr Zemmour has "checkmated the media, just like Trump".

He added: "Zemmour is very well-known in a splintered media landscape.

"He is ahead of the pack because those who make the most outrageous statements have the advantage today.”

The first round of the 2022 French presidential election will be held on 10 April 2022.

The election will be held just before the 2022 legislative election.

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2021-10-11 21:07:15Z
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Moldova requests EU help after Gazprom reduces gas flows - Financial Times

Moldova is requesting emergency gas supplies from EU countries after Russian state-controlled exporter Gazprom slashed its shipments to the country amid a wider European gas crunch.

The former Soviet state of 2.6m people is seeking a deal to supply more gas via Romania to alleviate shortages and surging prices after a supply contract ran out last month, according to two people involved in the talks. Officials are unwilling to agree to new terms with Gazprom at a significantly higher price.

Supply to Moldova, wedged between Romania and Ukraine, has fallen by around one-third while prices have shot up from $550 per thousand cubic meters last month to $790 this month — nearly five times the average that the country paid last year.

The prices are “not justified and not realistic for Moldova,” deputy prime minister Andrei Spinu said on Monday.

Spinu said Moldova was negotiating with Gazprom over a new contract but was also exploring “alternative ways to supply gas” from Russia, Romania, Ukraine and other EU countries.

Moldova, caught in a tussle for influence between Moscow and the west, elected Maia Sandu, a staunchly pro-EU president, last year. Her party won a landslide victory in July’s parliamentary elections.

“The amounts of gas involved are very small for a company of Gazprom’s size, but they are significant for Moldova,” said Aura Sabadus at market information service, ICIS.

“The most plausible explanation for their action is that Moldova has a pro-EU president and government and Russia is happy to use this situation to pressure the country.”

The shortage comes as Europe wrestles with skyrocketing gas prices blamed on strong demand globally and an unwillingness by Gazprom to provide additional supplies to the European market beyond those secured through long-term contracts.

Moldovan government officials are in talks with EU counterparts seeking to arrange emergency gas shipments from neighbouring Romania, but Bucharest is also struggling to cover its own needs amid broader fears over low storage levels across Europe.

Moldova has long been susceptible to over-reliance on Moscow, its former imperial and Soviet capital. It relies entirely on a pipeline from Russia through Ukraine for its gas needs, although a gas connector with Romania will start to operate this year after construction finished last week.

Moscow has also regularly imposed trade embargoes on Moldovan exports, such as wine, while Russian troops are the de facto security guarantors for Transnistria, an unrecognised breakaway state on the country’s eastern border with Ukraine.

The International Energy Agency has said it believes Russia could send 15 per cent more gas to Europe to help cool prices.

But Russia’s ambassador to the EU told the FT that Europe’s best way to avoid gas supply shocks was to mend relations with Moscow, while denying that Gazprom had played any role in the current crisis.

The Kremlin has blamed the European Commission for forcing Gazprom into shifting sales from long-term contracts on to freely traded market sales, where prices can fluctuate.

ICIS’s Sabadus said Ukraine had offered Gazprom capacity to ship the gas into Moldova, using capacity that had previously been earmarked for shipments to Hungary. Those flows were recently diverted to another pipeline.

“The Moldovans quite rightly say there’s daily capacity, there’s plenty of flexibility if Gazprom wants to supply them the full amount,” Sabadus said.

Gazprom did not respond to a request for comment.

Additional reporting by Marton Dunai in Budapest

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2021-10-11 17:10:17Z
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